​​Thursday Thriller – Quest

I’m such a fool, Calla whispered as the cellar door slammed. Edgar had grabbed her before she’d even made it out of the dining room, growling in her ear about how dearly she would pay for her mistake. His arm gushed blood as he dragged her down the stone steps to the cellar, flinging her inside and locking the door. Why couldn’t she bring herself to do what needed to be done? Why didn’t she grab the knife and drive it right into his neck?

The cellar was smelly and dank, with just a tiny window so high up she’d never be able to reach it. Rose brought her food and snuck her the occasional book, but she could never stay long. When she asked if Edgar would ever let her out, about the things he was doing, saying, while she was locked away, Rose said that he was very angry, but that his mother would be returning from her travels soon and would be coming for a visit, expecting good news. She stared back at her tellingly.

The next day was special. The only day of the month when Rose got to leave the property, a large portion of Edgar’s allowance for the month, carefully controlled by Catherine of course, filling her small purse, keys jangling in her pocket. She usually lingered in town before finishing her errands; she’d have a coffee at a sidewalk cafe, browse a bookstore, people watch. It was so rare she got to see anyone besides Edgar and Calla. But today, there’d be no time for that. Today would be different from any other day Rose had since she’d come to the mansion.

Edgar didn’t look up at the woman who passed his door in the hallway that rainy morning. Every inch of her skin was covered. She was wearing Rose’s worn raincoat and gloves, with galoshes that came to her knees. Her head was down and covered by a hood. She walked quickly, purposefully.

Tears filled Calla’s eyes as she opened the front door and ran down the front steps to the drive, where Rose was waiting with the van. She’d ducked out of the house earlier undetected, leaving the doors unlocked for Calla to follow. Calla laid across the back seat, keeping her head low as Rose sped down the drive.